New tenant for ex-Porter's building

US 441 site to house Camping World

Published: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 1:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 1:26 p.m.

After sitting empty for more than two years, the former Porter’s Home and Garden Center building on U.S. 441 in Summerfield is slated to soon be home to RV and outdoor retailer Camping World and Good Sam, an international organization of recreational vehicle owners.

The two companies announced in a news release last week that they were moving their current RV dealership, Camping World of Ocala, to the 85,000-square-foot Summerfield facility. Camping World’s current location is 3550 S. Pine Ave. (U.S. 441).

Camping World has more than 50 retail locations in 33 states, according to its website.

TD Bank N.A. took possession of the Porter’s nursery three years ago following a foreclosure lawsuit, and in 2011 sold the property to Ocala-based Novia Group LLC. Novia owner Joe Moreau said he is selling 16 acres of the Porter’s property, including the original building, to Camping World, although the sale has not yet closed.

Camping World did not return telephone calls from the Star-Banner for this story. Moreau said an additional 32 acres behind the former nursery remains for sale.

Camping World of Ocala general manager Evan Crayder also confirmed the move to the former Porter’s business.

In a company news release Camping World executives said the additional space offered at Porter’s, and its closer location to The Villages, made the move a logical business step. The company’s current location is 4.7 acres.

“We initially acquired our Ocala location in November 2011 as part of a multi-store chain acquisition. We have realized great success; however, (we) have not been able to execute our companies’ full offering,” said Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam, in a news release. “We knew that by binding both the retail and dealership locations in our network, we would get closer to achieving our goal of truly being the one-stop shopping location for the RV and outdoor enthusiast across the country.”

The company also announced it would hire additional sales, retail and technical staffers as the expansion project in Summerfield gets under way. It announced it expects to open the new center by June.

The company said it will sell both motor homes and towable trailer homes, as well as accessory retail merchandise.

“The new SuperCenter will feature one of the largest indoor showrooms on the eastern seaboard,” the news release said.

“After a thorough search in this part of Florida, which included Ocala, Gainesville, Leesburg, and Inverness, we landed on Summerfield because we felt this location best served all of the aforementioned communities,” said Johnny Sirpilla, chief business development officer for Camping World and Good Sam.

Marion County records show that Moreau originally paid $1.8 million for the property. He would not discuss the sales price to Camping World.

“I can’t wait until they move in, They have everything you could ever want,” said RV owner Evelyn Emmons. “We’ve purchased a lot of things from them.”

Emmons, 73, lives in Summerfield half the year, but takes her 38-foot-long trailer to Ocean City, Md., where she lives with her husband, the other half.

Her sister, Arlene Bosse, 70, lives in her 37-foot trailer at Southern Oaks RV Resort, next to the former Porter’s garden business.

“It would be so convenient if they moved here,” she said of Camping World’s announcement. I’m amazed at everything they have.”

<p>After sitting empty for more than two years, the former Porter's Home and Garden Center building on U.S. 441 in Summerfield is slated to soon be home to RV and outdoor retailer Camping World and Good Sam, an international organization of recreational vehicle owners.</p><p>The two companies announced in a news release last week that they were moving their current RV dealership, Camping World of Ocala, to the 85,000-square-foot Summerfield facility. Camping World's current location is 3550 S. Pine Ave. (U.S. 441).</p><p>Camping World has more than 50 retail locations in 33 states, according to its website.</p><p>TD Bank N.A. took possession of the Porter's nursery three years ago following a foreclosure lawsuit, and in 2011 sold the property to Ocala-based Novia Group LLC. Novia owner Joe Moreau said he is selling 16 acres of the Porter's property, including the original building, to Camping World, although the sale has not yet closed.</p><p>Camping World did not return telephone calls from the Star-Banner for this story. Moreau said an additional 32 acres behind the former nursery remains for sale.</p><p>Camping World of Ocala general manager Evan Crayder also confirmed the move to the former Porter's business.</p><p>In a company news release Camping World executives said the additional space offered at Porter's, and its closer location to The Villages, made the move a logical business step. The company's current location is 4.7 acres.</p><p>“We initially acquired our Ocala location in November 2011 as part of a multi-store chain acquisition. We have realized great success; however, (we) have not been able to execute our companies' full offering,” said Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam, in a news release. “We knew that by binding both the retail and dealership locations in our network, we would get closer to achieving our goal of truly being the one-stop shopping location for the RV and outdoor enthusiast across the country.”</p><p>The company also announced it would hire additional sales, retail and technical staffers as the expansion project in Summerfield gets under way. It announced it expects to open the new center by June.</p><p>The company said it will sell both motor homes and towable trailer homes, as well as accessory retail merchandise.</p><p>“The new SuperCenter will feature one of the largest indoor showrooms on the eastern seaboard,” the news release said.</p><p>“After a thorough search in this part of Florida, which included Ocala, Gainesville, Leesburg, and Inverness, we landed on Summerfield because we felt this location best served all of the aforementioned communities,” said Johnny Sirpilla, chief business development officer for Camping World and Good Sam.</p><p>Marion County records show that Moreau originally paid $1.8 million for the property. He would not discuss the sales price to Camping World.</p><p>“I can't wait until they move in, They have everything you could ever want,” said RV owner Evelyn Emmons. “We've purchased a lot of things from them.”</p><p>Emmons, 73, lives in Summerfield half the year, but takes her 38-foot-long trailer to Ocean City, Md., where she lives with her husband, the other half.</p><p>Her sister, Arlene Bosse, 70, lives in her 37-foot trailer at Southern Oaks RV Resort, next to the former Porter's garden business.</p><p>“It would be so convenient if they moved here,” she said of Camping World's announcement. I'm amazed at everything they have.”</p><p><i>Contact Fred Hiers at 867-4157 or fred.hiers@starbanner.com.</i></p>